Euro 2016: Guide to Group C

This is a big day for Northern Ireland. They are hoping to cause a shock and overcome Poland. Following that, Ukraine has the mighty task of holding out Germany. So now let’s see what each of those teams have to offer.

Group C: Germany, Northern Ireland, Poland and Ukraine

Germany

The world champions head into the Euros on the back of a less than impressive qualification campaign. Two years ago in Brazil, they looked unbeatable. Since then, Germany has lost to Poland, USA, Ireland, France, England and Slovakia. Despite that, they still managed to win their group. Although Joachim Löw is without a few of the players he trusts most on the big stage, Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Mirolsav Klose.

This is a team going through a transformation, nearly half the squad is under the age of 25 and very few of those players have tournament experience. The midfield has much creativity and flare, but it lacks steel. Bastian Schweinsteiger has held the centre of the park together for years for this German side; however, he has suddenly lost a yard of pace and is not as effective as he used to be. That means the weight falls mostly on Toni Kroos, the Real Madrid man is one of the best central midfielders in the world, but he needs help from somewhere. Mario Gomez is the only out-and-out striker in the squad, his experience could be crucial and a few goals would not go amiss.

How will they do?
Even though their form may not be great at this moment in time, the Germans always seem to find a little bit extra when it comes to tournaments. They will qualify from their group, most probably in top spot. It’s hard to say they won’t reach at least the semi-finals, and with the squad at their disposal, they could well go on to be victorious in France.

Star man – Thomas Müller

There are very few things that the Bayern Munich forward has failed to achieve in his footballing career, but European Championship glory is one of them. Müller will be doing his upmost to ensure he does everything he can to change that, with his tenacity and tireless exuberance. He is a very special player; he has a knack of going under the radar and being in the right place at the right time. It would be a shock if he wasn’t in the running for the golden boot yet again. Here is something to make your head spin a little; Germany’s main man is still only 26-years-old.

Northern Ireland

Michael O’Neil guided his team to their first tournament in thirty years and their first ever European Championship’s. They finished above Romania and Hungary to top their group, quite outstanding really. During qualifying they only succumbed to defeat once, which was down to their togetherness and resolute attitude. This team is not the biggest of scorers so defence is going to be highly important, fortunately, their back-line has bags of experience. Northern Ireland is currently the most in-form team at the Euros, having gone 12 games unbeaten.

The squad does have the odd Premier League player here and there, but it is mostly made up of individuals from English footballs lower tiers. That’s not all bad, though, as those players will be looking to grasp their opportunity and prove they are good enough to be playing at this level. The spine of the team is their biggest strength, in the form of Jonny Evans, Gareth McAuley, Oliver Norwood and Kyle Lafferty. The latter scored 7 goals during qualification, he could have a huge say on their fortunes. Another man in great form is Will Grigg, the Wigan forward was on fire for his club this season.

How will they do?
Well, Northern Ireland finds themselves in a very tough group. There is no easy game when you are paired against Germany, Poland and Ukraine. Many believe they will not pick up any points, but given how well they have played over the last couple of years, they could shock a few people. A best third-place finish is a realistic target, providing they beat either Poland or Ukraine.

Star man – Steven Davis

The Southampton midfielder may be the captain of his country, but even with that honour, he is still an unsung hero. He has been through thick and thin with this squad, from the disbelieving days where they struggled to win a game, all the way to last year’s qualification glory. Davies is what makes this Northern Ireland team tick; he covers every blade of grass, and has popped up with the odd crucial goal. On and off the pitch, Davis will have a pivotal role this summer.

Poland

This is a good team with an interesting mixture of youth and experience. They qualified second in the group, just one point behind Germany. In the past, Poland relied heavily on counter-attacking football, but now they play with a much more methodical approach where they build attacks and always look dangerous. They scored 33 goals in qualifying, the most of any team. The offensive freedom the coach has granted does leave the door open a bit defensively. That means their chances of keeping their first ever clean sheet at the Euros is slightly doubtful.

As previously mentioned, this team likes to attack. Adam Nawalka was searching for a number 10 to play behind Robert Lewandowski, but failed in his attempts to find that. So he instead opted to play Arkadiusz Milik alongside their main striker, and the pair went on to form an almost telepathic partnership. 19-year-old Bartosz Kaputska is a skilful midfielder, who is very adept at linking up the play; he is one to keep an eye on. Dortmund’s right-back Lukasz Piszczek is a defensive mainstay of the back-line, his experience will come in handy. Between the sticks will guarantee a recognisable keeper, in Lukasz Fabianski, Artur Boruc or Wojciech Szczesny.

How will they do?
Just like they did in qualifying, Poland will be hoping to challenge Germany for first place. If they keep up their impressive goalscoring record, they will be hard to stop in the group stage. It would be a surprise if this team didn’t make it through. Should they get through, they will be an awkward opposition for anyone.

Star man – Robert Lewandowski

The Bayern Munich centre-forward is not only the best player in this Poland squad; he is without doubt one of the leading strikers in world football. Lewandowski is tall in stature, but agile across the turf, making him almost the complete attacker. His goal record speaks for itself; he has 34 international goals to his name. Most teams will try and double up on him, which will give license to some of his team-mates. If Lewandowksi doesn’t turn up, Poland will struggle.

Ukraine

This is a team that has benefited from the extended number of places at the tournament. After finishing third in their qualifying group, Ukraine faced Slovenia in a playoff match. Mykhaylo Fomenko’s side were victorious in their home leg before going on to hold out for a draw in the away tie. They are a defensively solid team, who only conceding four goals throughout qualifying. The Ukrainians head into the Euros on a four game winning-streak.

The manager has opted to take just six defenders – the lowest of every team. Yevhen Khacheridi is the rock of the back four, but not just that, he is a huge threat in the opposing penalty area. That’s where captain and set-piece master, Ruslan Rotan, comes in handy. The midfield maestro is the on-field leader, but it is legend Anatoliy Tymoshchuk who is the driving force in the dressing room. At 37, the former Bayern Munich man sees little action on the pitch these days; he has played 143 times for his country. This Ukrainian team lacks goals, so the pressure is piled on tricky forward Andriy Yarmolenko to deliver. Having been linked with clubs all over Europe, he has a price tag of £25m on his head.

Included in the squad is tireless striker, Roman Zozulya, strangely, he is currently banned from domestic football for six months due to him attacking a referee in a match earlier on this year.

How will they do?

In reality, Ukraine should not be challenging for first place in this group. They are a resilient team, who will work hard and be dangerous on the counter-attack. For them it all depends on the big players, but the lack of goals in the squad could prove fatal. An early knockout would not come as a surprise.

Star man – Yevhen Konoplyanka

The 26-year-old winger is the talisman of this squad; he has a pocket full of tricks and is very direct when facing up against a full-back. If for some reason he was unavailable for selection it would be catastrophic for Ukraine. The Sevilla wide-man is more than capable in front of goal; he has scored 13 times for his country. Also, if you cast your mind back to 2012, you may remember Konoplyanka despatching a wonderful curling effort past England goalkeeper, Joe Hart.

Euro 2016: Guide to Group D

We head into day three of the tournament with the shock and disappointment of that last-gasp Russian equaliser still looming. But there is a long way to go and plenty more football to come.

Turkey faces up against Croatia in an early kick-off. Elsewhere, Spain doesn’t play their match against the Czech Republic until Monday. This is a group which could rustle a few feathers. Any of these teams in Group D have the potential to go through, which means at least one decent side is going to be facing an early exit from the tournament.

Group D: Croatia, Czech Republic, Spain and Turkey

Croatia

Ante Cacic’s Croatia has been drawn into one of the strongest groups in the competition. As always, Croatia has some real star quality in their squad. It is that star quality which enabled them to lose on just one occasion during qualification and remain undefeated against group winners, Italy. They are now on a seven-game unbeaten run and, in their last Euros warm-up match, they beat San Marino 10-0.

This Croatia team tends to dominate the middle of the park, with the outstanding Luca Modric partnered by Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona. Out-wide they have the pace and power of Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic, who has recently been linked with Liverpool. Up top is the centre forward maverick, Mario Mandzukic. The Juventus striker is an absolute handful in the air, but it is also very adept with the ball at his feet. At the back the Croatians have the experience of skipper, Darijo Srna and Vedran Corluka.

Domagoj Vida plays alongside Corluka at the back, he is known as the hard man of the two. Vida lived up to that reputation back in 2012 when playing for Dinamo Zagreb, when he decided to open and drink a can of beer on the way to an away game, to the disgust of his manager, who kicked him off the bus and left him in a lay-by. Coincidentally, that just happened to be current national team coach, Ante Cacic. Hopefully the pair has since resolved that issue - maybe over a pint.

How will they do?

It has to be said again that Croatia finds themselves in a very tough group, so they could quite easily be eliminated. However, given the strength of their squad, they are more than capable of making it through. Not many teams would like to be pit against this team; a quarter-finals appearance is possible for this side.

Star man – Luca Modric

There is no questioning the value Modric has to this squad. The former Premier League star has everything you want in a midfielder; he puts in challenges, breaks up play, has a vast range of passing, is more than able of getting on the score sheet and creates a number of chances. Should the Croatian be at his ultimate best in France, his team will make the next round.

 

Czech Republic

Many people may have already written this team off. But believe me, this is a good Czech Republic team. They have the ability to press high against a lesser outfit and drop back and soak up pressure against so-called better sides. Shape and organisation is this team’s key to success. On the way to topping their group, remarkably, the Czechs did the double over Holland and finished a massive nine points above them. They only lost twice during their qualifying campaign, but since then, they have been defeated three times.

Pavel Vrba encourages his team to attack and in Tomas Necid they have an in-form striker. He holds the ball up well, allowing his team-mates to join him in the attack. The Bursaspor front man has recently been linked with Italian giants, Juventus. Captain Tomas Rosicky will look to play off the centre forward as often as possible. The 34-year-old midfielder may be passed his best, but even in his twilight years he still has plenty to offer this team; he has 103 caps for his country. It is of great importance that rock of the back four Tomas Sivok has a solid tournament. The Championship’s Daniel Pudil and Jiri Skalak will be in contention for a place in the line-up.

How will they do?
Any team from this group could face elimination. The Czech Republic will go out and give their all to try and win every game they play. That attitude will either prove highly fruitful or see them sent packing. This could be the shock team of the tournament, with the potential of reaching the later rounds. They will be hoping to emulate their success twelve years ago, where they reached the semi-finals of this competition.

Star man – Vladimir Darida

The importance of the Hertha Berlin attacking midfielder to this squad is often overlooked. He is not your typical forward-thinking player, he defends from the front and chases back on a regular basis. Darida is often employed to limit opposing team’s central midfielders time on the ball. That being said, he is still a very useful player on the ball and has an eye for goal. Darida will be looking to impress at the tournament, in order to gain a move to a bigger club.

Spain

This is a team going for an astonishing third European Championship title in a row. However, there are plenty of stars missing from that wonderful squad they had at their disposal four years ago. They did have a solid campaign, winning nine of their matches, losing only to Slovakia. In the build-up to the tournament they annihilated South Korea 6-1, but just a few days ago, Georgia beat them 1-0. So who knows what to expect. Surprisingly, Coach Vicente del Bosque opted to leave Juan Mata, Fernando Torres, Santi Cazorla and the tenacious Diego Costa at home. A decision that has came under much scrutiny.

They are still very adept at defending, though. With a settled back four of Juanfran, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos and Jordi Alba. The wing-backs will play high up the pitch and look to be a threat down the flanks. Spain are going to have to win games in midfield, and with the reliable Sergio Busquets, the creative spark of David Silva and the tidy play of Cesc Fabregas they should have enough. But the Chelsea man needs to put a disappointing season behind him and not go missing in games, like he often does for this team.

Up front they lack world-class. The coach often plays with a false 9. Despite being 35, Aritz Aduriz, a striker who enjoys a bit of hustle and bustle, is in the form of his life. He scored a magnificent 36 goals in all competitions for Athletic Bilbao this season. Another option is gangly, long-legged forward, Alvaro Morata. He is maturing nicely in Italy, as he is ever-present in the Juventus lineup.

In goal it is unknown who will be the Spanish first choice keeper for the tournament. David De Gea has had his off field problems this week, having been accused of playing a part in an alleged sex scandal a few years back. Manchester United’s player of the season for the last three years categorically denies the allegations. However, it will not do his chances any favors, so legendary stopper, Iker Casillas, may well build on his 167 caps.

How will they do?

The harmony within this squad just doesn’t seem quite right. Two years ago at the World Cup they got knocked out in the group stages. Spain has got more than enough in this team to push on into the later rounds of the competition. But when they come up against a top-class opposition they could come up short. Their lack of options in the final third of the field could prove to be their downfall.

Star man - Andrés Iniesta

At 32, Iniesta probably isn’t as effective as he was in his prime at previous tournaments. But the little genius is still one of the best midfielders in the world. He has lost a yard of his pace, but when it comes to Spain’s tiki-taka approach to the game that does not become an issue. The Barcelona captain is a lovely player to watch; he gets the ball down and plays silky, attacking football with purpose. Iniesta ties the midfield together and will be at the forefront of any Spain success at the Euros.

 

Turkey
This is an exciting Turkish team; they have an abundance of talent within their squad. They had a terrible start to qualifying, failing to win their first three games. However, they followed that up by remaining unbeaten for the rest of their matches – a run which included a 3-0 win over the Dutch. Turkey also defeated group D opponents Czech Republic in qualifying, which will give them confidence. Because Turkey ended up with the best third-place record of all the teams, they gained automatic qualification to the Euros. Recently, England was fortunate to beat them 2-1 in a friendly encounter.

Three-time Turkey manager, Fatih Terim, just can’t keep away from the national set-up. He encourages his team to get the ball down and play out from the back. That is one of the main reasons why he opts to play defensive midfielder, Mehmet Topal, at centre-back. Young central midfielder Ozan Tufan, 21, looks to have a promising future ahead of him, he loves to play a passing game but he also doesn’t shy away from a tackle. The range of options Turkey has in midfield is quite impressive. One of which is Hakan Calhanoglu, he is known across Europe for being a dead-ball specialist. Leading the line will no doubt be Burak Yilmaz; he has scored over 150 goals in the Turkish top-flight.

How will they do?
It all depends on what Turkey team turns up. If they approach the tournament like they did the start of their qualifying campaign then they will not make it through. But if they go out and play their natural game and take it to the opposition then they will be pushing all the way to make the knockout rounds. This team could cause a few upsets. They head into France under the radar.

Star man – Arda Turan

The wonderful Arda Turan is the focal point of this Turkey team. The greatest player the nation has ever had, he is the footballing hero of the Turkish people. His high work-ethic is always a welcome addition to the side. Now playing for Barcelona, the Turkey captain is a tremendous player to watch, mesmerizing defenders with his quick feet and attacking flare. The pressure is on Arda to create opportunities and help guide his team into the last 16 of this competition.

 

 

Euro 2016: Guide to Group B

As we head into day two of the tournament, last night we saw Dimitri Payet score a sublime long-range screamer to claim an opening game victory for France. It’s now time for the start of Group B, where England will be looking to overcome Russia and Wales face Slovakia. The following team guide will hopefully give you an indication of what is to come from those teams.

Group B: England, Russia, Slovakia and Wales

England

It’s about time the Three Lions actually did something at a major tournament. It’s been twenty years since they progressed deep into the later rounds and a further thirty years since their only success. Roy Hodgson’s men had a marvellous qualifying campaign, winning all ten of their fixtures. On the back of that they have also defeated France, Germany and Portugal within the last few months, which can only breed confidence.

There has been a huge revamp to the squad since their appalling World Cup two years ago, with an astonishing eleven new additions. There is many exciting youngsters all the over the park for this team, in particular, John Stones, Dele Alli and Marcus Rashford. Another newcomer is Leicester City’s industrious forward, Jamie Vardy. The former non-leaguer has come on leaps and bounds this season, scoring an incredible 24 Premier League goals. Captain Wayne Rooney’s position has come under a little bit of threat; his side need him to turn up on the big stage for once.

Finding the net shouldn’t be an issue for this team, but it must be said that, they are a bit suspect at the opposite end and really need to tighten up. Although Gary Cahill is occasionally unconvincing, he should now have the required experience to help out his fellow defenders. It is essential that England get off to a good start. They have never won their first game at the Euros (Drawn 4, Lost 4).

How will they do?

It is impossible to predict how this team will do. They have the potential to progress well into the later rounds, but you just never know what England team is going to turn up. If they are allowed to play their natural game, with little fear, the possibilities are endless. This young team has gone under the radar over the last couple of years, which could play into their hands. They will get through the group-stages. A semi-final appearance would be seen as a successful tournament, given their recent history.

Star man – Harry Kane

A couple of years back Harry Kane was an unknown quantity. His meteoric rise with Spurs has been fascinating; he won the Premier League’s Golden Boot this season. Kane has real star quality that is for sure. The centre forward hasn’t completely found his scoring boots for England, but it’s only a matter of time before his international career really gets going. There is no doubt Kane will be England’s starting striker, his goals will be paramount for his side. A nation’s hopes are resting firmly on his shoulders.

Russia

In July 2015, the Russian FA surprisingly axed Fabio Capello because they feared they may not qualify. They turned to CSKA Moscow boss Leonid Slutsky, whose change of formation and man-management style has proved to be more fruitful. Under Slutsky they won their four remaining qualifying matches. The team now plays with more flare down the channels and their forward players have been finding the net on a regular basis. They will be looking to build on their awful record of just two clean sheets in 15 games at the Euros.

The biggest worry for this Russian side is their lack of pace in defence. Despite a wealth of experience in Sergei Ignashevich and the Berezutski twins, they struggle massively against quick strikers. The coach has opted to only take three forwards, but each of them poses a threat. Young talent Aleksandr Golovin has found the net twice in his three appearances from midfield, the 20-year-old could be one to keep an eye on. Alan Dzagoev is Russia’s best player; unfortunately, he has been struck down with an injury and will not be heading to France this summer.

How will they do?
Now that this team is playing with more confidence and composure, they could be a tough test for anyone. This Russia team may not be as talented as they have been in previous years, but they have a wealth of experience and the odd bit of talent here and there. They will certainly fancy their chances of getting out the group-stage, but beyond that, it’s difficult to see their defence being able to contend with big-name strikers.

Star man – Artyom Dzyuba

The Zenit St. Petersuburg striker has an extremely big ego, but of late he has finally been backing that up. After failing to live up to his potential for many years, the centre forward has been in scintillating form so far this season, scoring a goal in every other game in the Russian top-flight. He also notched a further 6 in this season’s Champions League. Standing tall at 6’5”, Dyzuba is a menace in the air. The Russians will be counting on him finding the net as often as possible.

Slovakia

The Slovaks enjoyed an accomplished qualifying campaign. This will be their first ever European Championship tournament. Their most notable win came over three-time champions, Spain. This is yet another defensive-minded, hard-working team, which is shown in their squad selection, as they have opted to include just two strikers.

There are many names in this squad that the avid fan may recognise - Jan Mucha, Martin Skrtel, Dusan Svento, Miroslav Stoch, Vladimir Weiss, Robert Mak and Jan Gregus have all spent time in England. Juraj Kucka is a vital member of the midfield; he sits in front of the defence and does the majority of the dirty-work, which grants his fellow team-mates in front of him a bit more freedom. The wildcard of the squad is young midfielder, Ondrej Duda, 21; he has a sharp burst of speed, complemented by an array of tricks. The Legia Warsaw man is hoping to earn a transfer to a bigger club this summer. Vladimir Weiss made the joint-most assists in qualifying (6).

How will they do?
As previously mentioned, Slovakia defeated Spain during qualification, showing they can beat anyone on their given day. Group favourites England should take this opponent very seriously. In reality they don’t have enough to reach the latter stages of the tournament, but they will have their sights firmly on at least securing that second spot. It could be a real scrap between Slovakia, Russia and Wales to make it through.

Star man – Marek Hamsik

This guy is a top, top player. Put it this way, if you manage to nullify Hamsik then you will almost certainly stop Slovakia. In recent times he has come under much scrutiny for not performing for his country, but after a string of instrumental performances over the last couple of years that has since been put to bed. The Slovaks have very little else to offer in forward positions, so most of the attacking emphasis lies with the creative midfielder. He helped guide Napoli to a second-place finish in Serie A and will be hoping to carry that form into the Euros with him.

Wales

Chris Coleman’s team had a brilliant campaign, qualifying for their first tournament since 1958. In their group they took 4 points off one of the favourites for the championships, Belgium. It’s been years since the Welsh had a decent side capable of even challenging for a place at a tournament, let alone getting through at a canter. Just four players registered a goal on their way to qualifying - the least of any team at the Euros. But with their astute tactical approach, they have become very hard to beat, as well as deadly on the counter-attack. On their way to the finals they only conceded 4 goals, losing on just one occasion.

Keeping clean sheets and frustrating opponents is going to be Wales way to success, and with James Collins and captain Ashley Williams in the middle of their defence, they have two solid individuals. In central midfield Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey will be crucial to this team; Allen’s job will be to break up play and protect his defence, whereas Ramsey will push forward at every opportunity and hope to provide a goal-threat. Wales lack a recognised goal scorer up top, but what they do have is two hard-working individuals in Sam Vokes and Hal Robson-Kanu, both of which will be vying for a starting berth.

How will they do?
After their qualifying campaign, Wales head into this tournament with an awful lot of confidence. They don’t fear anyone and relish a challenge. The games against Russia and Slovakia will determine whether or not this team will get out of the group-stage. A second or best third-place finish is a more than realistic aim for this side. If they were to progress through into the knockout rounds, Wales will be tricky encounter for anyone, but they will probably come up short against a good team.

Star man – Gareth Bale

Well that wasn’t a hard choice. The glorious Gareth Bale is one of the top players in the world and is undoubtedly the best player in this Wales squad. He makes up for what they lack up front, by compensating for his team-mates shortage of goals; he scored 7 goals during qualifying. Bale has had another immense season with Real Madrid and comes into the tournament on the back of a Champions League triumph. He has had his injury problems, though, so it is imperative that he maintains his fitness. The attacker will no doubt be the difference maker for this Wales team.